Abstract

Insect damage was studied in representative natural forests in Kerala. Observations were made on 20 tree species in moist deciduous forest (at Peechi and Vazhani) and 18 in evergreen forest (at Sholayar). Damage was occasional (rather than major) andthe most common type was leaf feeding, although foliage loss never exceeded 10 except for 4 species each in the 2 forest types: Grewia tiliaefolia [tiliifolia], Haldina cordifolia, Lannea coromandelica and Tectona grandis in moist deciduous forest; and Anacolosa densiflora, Actinodaphne madraspatana, Cinnamomum verum and Litsea floribunda in evergreen forest. A total of 85 insects was found on the 20 species studied in the moist deciduous forest but only 8 (most undetermined) on the 18 species studied in the evergreen forest (largely due to difficulties in observing and collecting); these are listed, with notes of the host, damage noticed, and previous records of insects on that host